.SecDef Lloyd Austin spoke with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu regarding the Russian fighter pilot who collided with a US drone. 'It's important that great powers be models of transparency and communication,' Austin said,
Two Russian Su-27 aircraft dumped fuel on a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 unmanned aircraft several times on Tuesday morning before one of them flew into its propeller over the Black Sea. The U.S. military was forced to crash land it into the water, and it's unclear if it'll be able to recover the drone.Austin, in a press conference on Wednesday, said:"I just got off the phone with my Russian counterpart, Minister Shoigu.
Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the intercept was intentional, as was the reckless behavior, but said it's unclear whether the pilot intended to connect with the U.S. drone. He also said he has a call scheduled with his Russian counterpart, Chief of General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov.
Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said Russia will try to get the wreckage of the drone. Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, Pentagon spokesman, said they spoke"regarding recent unprofessional, dangerous, and reckless behavior by the Russian air force in international airspace over the Black Sea," adding,"Secretary Austin emphasized that the United States will continue to fly and to operate wherever international law allows."
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